Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.......

Today was our second day off this week. So, since all errands were done on Tuesday we decided to make a butternut squash and chesnut lasagna. Jaime has been dying to make this recipe for almost a year now and well today was FINALLY the day to do just that! Well, after gathering most of the ingredients it was time to find a main ingredient....the Chestnuts! Come to find out chesnuts are seasonal....who knew?!? Hence the song, "chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." . Anyways, we were able to substitute water chestnuts which turned out to work just fine.

Jaime preparing the yummy lasagna!
The finished product! YUMMMMMMMM!!!

This was a great recipe despite the little chestnut setback!

Shopping was another part of our day because I wanted to take advantage of tax free weekend! So, guess what I finally bought.................my red shoes!!!

From our dinner table to yours,

J&C

My Favorite............Date Nights!!

Atleast once a week, Jaime and I have what I call a "date night". I thought this was the perfect name because unforunately during the week Jaime does not get off of work until after 10. So, the date doesn't officially start until that night! Anyways, last night when I got off of work Jaime left me some tip money of the counter and a note that said, "Here is some tip money, use it for some snacks and a movie for tonight." I was so excited because it was like we got a free date night! Well, I finally made it to the store and decided to do two of our favorites for snacks.....mozerella cheese sticks and potstickers....and for dessert.....the infamous parfaits! The movie I picked for the night was Obsessed and along with the food it was GREAT! Needless to say, we really enjoyed our date night together!

From our dinner table to yours,
J&C

Berry Blend Parfait!

After a hard worked weekend at both of our jobs Jaime and I finally got some quality time Sunday night! So, we decided to continue our on going tournament of Scrabble. Before we got the game started we had the challenge of deciding what we wanted to eat. Since it was late Jaime decided not to eat. So, I decided to make me a little yogurt and fruit parfait!

I love this little refreshing snack so of course I want Jaime to love it too. The only problem is Jaime doesn't like yogurt! Suprisingly, after many failed attempts I finally found the perfect concoction to get him to eat it!


Berry Blend Parfait!

Ingrediants:

1 4oz. yogurt cup (strawberry,raspberry,plain)
2 tbs. of granola
2 tbs. of frozen, mixed strawberries, raspberries and blueberries (fresh will do too!)
1 small juice cup (as seen in the picture)

Preparation:

Fill juice cup halfway with yogurt of choice. Add desired amount of thawed mixed berries. Cover with remaining yogurt and top off with granola! Chill for 5-10 minutes and enjoy with a late night game of scrabble!

By the end of the night I was thrilled that Jaime loved my new favorite snack and that I WON the game, continuing my winning streak!!!


Berry Much Love,
J&C

I HEART YOU.....

It is not very often that Jaime and I get to have dinner together so let me just say when we do sometimes we like to go all out! This meal was no different. Our menu consisted of Atlantic Copper River Salmon (available only once a year) seasoned with a savory butter spread, sauteed spinach, whole wheat santa fe rice and a glass of our lemonade slush!

The special hearts Jaime made using my serving of spinach and rice is exactly what made this dinner so special and worth blogging about. As Jaime served the sides and waited for me to cook the salmon, he began to scramble through our silverware drawer. Of course I asked, "What are you looking for?" and of course I got no response. So, I decided just to watch.......suddenly he pulls out a heart shaped cookie cutter that we have had for years and never used. I then think to myself....... "Is he making cookies?" So again I ask him what he is doing and he replies, "Watch and you will see!" So, again I watch..... only to realize that he is using the cookie cutter to shape my servings of rice and spinach. Who would have ever thought the first time the cookie cutter was used would be to shape servings of spinach and rice!?!

After endless seconds of watching I must say I liked what I saw! Like I told Jaime, I thought this simple act was so romantic..... Why? Because I was never the kind of person that could be romanced with "money", it will always be the free and little acts of a person that will turn my everyday life into a romance story. With a little act Jaime made an everyday meal into a meal of romance by just simply taking the time to be creative and to think of another way of showing just how much he hearts me!

On another note, I will never look at rice and spinach the same.

And to top off this delicious and romantic dinner we poured ourselves a delicious cold glass of frozen lemonade Claudia and Jaime style! Just another great surprise Jaime had up his sleeve! It was sooo refreshing and very simple to do!

From Our Dinner Table To Yours,

J&C

Happy Anniversary To Me!!!

Today Jaime and I happened to have the day off to celebrate our 5 year and 4 month anniversary! We have always acknowledged our anniversary each month either with dinner or just doing something fun together. This morning I was suprised with a new ring and I totally love it! I was soo surpised and still don't know how he did this with out me knowing......nothing gets past Claudia! After this beautiful surprise we got dressed and went to have lunch at Roaring Fork. There I had some yummy fish tacos and Jaime got his Stuffed Reuben Sandwich! My Treat! Afterwards, we made our way to the mall to get my ring sized and had a pleasant day just trying on outfits, smelling colognes, and browsing the mall. We then went grocery shopping at HEB because we wanted some fresh Salmon for later in the week and then we came home and made a delicious pork chop and butternut sqaush dinner! We are finally ending our day blogging while watching the movie Push. Goodnight!

"Camp Cousins 2009"

And let "Camp Cousins" begin.......

Jaime getting our bed ready for the long hot nights...
Finally the Castros arrive!
Time for some group pics...
The first game of dominoes.....
And the game goes on.........the winner is CLAUDIA! Just add the dots Heather!
Sidney and Claudia doing what they do best...
Gerald and Adolfo setting the lines...
The twins looking like twins....
Sidney and Jaime in the kitchen of course!
The first feast of the camping trip.........Shrimp Broil! YUM!!!!!!!!!!
Jaime telling Celeste all about the shrimp and just how good it really is! Needless to say she loved it!!!!!!!!!
Me and Chica chowin' down on some good eats!
Enjoying our first shrimp broil together............so in love!
Half the gang....
Sisters....

The youngsters....brats scared us! Everyone learning how to put bait in the water......
Sharing cousins.......so sweet!
Remember Kelsey, there will always be many fish in the sea!
Lose a little oxygen Tay?
Easy now Heather....LOL
My little blowfish...
The last night enjoying ourselves at the campsite after a long fun day on the lake!

We ended the last night with arm wrestling, a game of dominoes, and some amazing showers!

We must say we had a really great time camping with our cousins! So blessed to have such fun, beautiful, crazy, and loving cousins like ya'll!!! Can't wait for "Camp Cousins 2010"!

Believe, Dream, Achieve

Today I finally bought my first car!!!!!!

Buying a car was the next step in my little life but only after I got a raise, a promotion and paid off my tuition. Only a few weeks ago I finally did just that!

So, it was time to take that next step that I have been waiting, planning, dreaming and talking about forever. I can still remember the day I asked Curt if I could buy a car if I promised to get a job and pay for it. Thank God he said NO!

I am so thankful that I was able to finally buy this car on my own with a good AC that I will never take for granted and a car payment perfect for my budget but most of all I am thankful for having parents that made this all possible.

Had Curt said Yes I know things would be so different. I will always be soooo grateful for having parents that knew what was best for me, even though I may not have liked it. For parents who sacrificed so much just to make sure I got a great education just so I could get a good job and one day buy that car. Today I felt so many different emotions but all of which were positive. Accomplised, blessed, thankful, excited, shocked, determined, achievement, grateful......just to name a few. Nothing feels better than to have all your dreams come true, goals achieved and for things to fall into place just the way you knew they could so long as you worked hard. Now on to my next journey in life........I know it will be only sweeter!!!!!!! Thanks Mom and Curt for always doing what was in our best interest! Without you this could not have been possible!

Now for the bittersweet part of it all.........

I can still remember the first day I got my green little jeep aka the green booger. She was the perfect car for me! I will hate to let her go but will always remember how she NEVER let me down. She was the best car this college student could of ever had!!

Top Ten Things I Loved About My Green Booger:

1. Got me EVERYWHERE I needed to go safely...Houston, CC, JC, Austin, Kerville, SA..
2. Stayed with me to the bitter end........and is still trucking along
3. She could haul ANYTHING
4. She could hold all my friends at once
5. She had no blindspots

She will be missed but "WE'VE HAD A NICE RIDE" to say the least!